New trial stage for TB vaccine

27th April 2009

Scientists at Oxford University have said the vaccine MVA85A is to be trialled on young children to see if it is effective against tuberculosis.

2,784 children in South Africa will be given the vaccine, which stimulates T-cells in the immune system to respond more strongly to the BCG injection. Oxford University researcher Dr Helen McShane said: "This trial will hopefully show that the vaccine can protect people from getting TB."